Adjustable bottom for containers



Oct. 12, 1937. B. .1. DAVIDSON 2,095,798

' ADJUSTABLE BOTTOM FOR CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 12, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l mac: u; DAV/060w INVENTOR v V V BY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 B. J. DAVIDSON ADJUSTABLE BOTTOM FOR CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 12, 1952 Oct. 12, 1937.

Patented Oct. 12, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 2,093,798 ADJUSTABLE BOTTOM- FOR CONTAINERS I Bruce J. Davidson, Kew Gardens, N. Y., assignor to National Biscuit Company, New York, N. Y., a'corporation of New Jersey Application November 12, 1932, Serial No. 642,356

18 Claims.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use with containers for biscuit, crackers and the like, which are packed in heavy cardboard containers for shipment to the merchants, who

then'display the goods in the shipping container.

after havingfitted a glass window display cover over the downturned flanges at the top of the container. In order to keep the goods attrac- 1 tively displayed, it has been found expedient to provide means for adjusting or raising the bottom of the container, from time to time, so as to keep the upper layer of merchandise close to the I Display covers of thetype shown in the patent to Taylor, No. 1,694,024, December l, 1928, are quite generally used on biscuit and cracker containers, these covers having metal frames that fit 1 over and catch under the downturn'ed flanges. In adjusting the bottoms made from stiif material as shown in my co-pending application Ser; No-

617,300, the display-cover is removed before the bottom is adjusted and then replacedafter the adjustment has been made. By; means of the present invention, the bottom can be adjusted without removing'the display cover, and also a wide range of adjustments or positions of the bot tom can be had. Broadly stated, the present improvement involves the use of a hanger positioned near the top of the container with which the flaps of the adjustable bottom are engageable, and which is accessible through the display cover.

In one form of my invention, the hanger takes the form of a metal clip or hook attached to or fitted over the top edge of the container, and in another form, it may be a rod, a supplemental frame or hook carried by the metal frame of the cover.

In all cases, there is a wide range of adjustability and easy access may be had to the adjusting means. t

Referring now to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a sectional view ofa container embodying one form of my invention wherein the side flaps have slots engaging over hangers'or clips at the top of the container. V

Fig. 2 shows another form of the invention wherein the turned downends of the side flaps engage in folds in the hangers or clips.

Fig. 3 is another form of the invention wherein the side flaps engage over hangers in the form of wires or rods secured to: the frame of; the cover,

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views, partly broken away, of the upper left hand side of Figs. 1 and 2, respectively.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of. one of the hangers used in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 7 shows the blank forforming the adjustable bottom and flaps of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 shows the blank forming the adjustable bottom and. flaps used in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the cover frame and hangers of Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1, H indicates a carton or container having outwardly turned flanges I2 at the top over which the metallic frame l3 of the usual display cover is fitted. The display cover has an inwardly projecting ledge hi to which the frame of the glass cover is hinged, the glass cover being omitted because it forms no part of the present invention. H

The container has an adjustable bottom 15 with upwardly extending flaps l6, H which, at their upper ends, when the bottom is raised'as shown in Fig. 1, have slots l8, l9 fitting over the inner hooks of hangers 20, 2l. In this figure the hangers 20, 2I are S-shaped and one leg of the S fits over the top of the container and is held in position by the ledge l lof the display cover.

The bottom l5 and flaps l6 are preferably formed from a single blank, as shown in Fig. 7, but of course the flaps l6, ll may be formed from separate pieces of material secured to the bottom 15 in some cases. In Fig. 7 the flaps I6, Il join the bottom 15 along score lines 22, on which the blank is folded so that the flaps normally stand at right angles to the bottom. The blank also is provided with flanges 23, 24 at the sides of the bottom, which extend upwardly'a short distance within the container and strengthen and stiflen the bottom l5. 7 In practice the blank shown in Fig. '7 will be folded along the score lines and placed in the container with the bottom l5 resting on the bottom of the container, and'the flaps and flanges lying adjacent the four sides of the carton. The carton is then filled with merchandise in layers, such as cakes or biscuit and shipped to the merchant. When the merchant receives the goods, he will remove the temporary cover and after placing the hangers 20, 21 in position, he will place the display cover l3 on the container, which will hold the hangers 20, 2| in position, the

, hangers being placed on the two sides of the container adjacent the flaps I6, ll.

When a part of the goods, say a third or more, has been sold so that thetoplayers are a considerable distance below the display cover and are no longer effectively displayed, the merchant will open the, cover, and, grasping the upper ends of the flaps l6, II, will raise the bottom [5 until the remaining contents are brought near the top of the container when the proper slots [8, [9 will I be engaged over the hangers 20, 2| so as to support the bottom in adjustable or raised position. The flaps are provided with two or more adjusting slots I8, l9 so that the bottom can be adjusted two or more times; and when the lower adjusting slots are used, that part of the flaps above the unused slots may be torn off along score lines which are provided for that purpose, as shown in Fig. 7. This is done so that the long ends of the flaps will not project up too high when the bottom is raised to a position near the top of the container.

In Figs. 2, 5, and 8, I have shown a slightly modified form of bottom and hanger, wherein the flaps 25, 26 maybe narrower than they are in Fig. '7 and the clips or hangers 2T, 28 are preferably of the same width as the flaps. clips or hangers 2'! are S-shaped, the same as the clips 20, and are held in place at the top of the container by the frame of the display cover, just as in Fig. 1. The fiaps 25, 26 are provided with a number of score lines 29, 36 on which they may be folded, and with intermediate tear lines 3!, 32. along which the flaps may be torn to shorten them as the bottom is raised to diiferent positions of adjustment. In all cases the flaps [6, H or 25, 25 are wide enough to prevent the bottom 55 from tilting when it has been raised.

In using this modified form of the invention,.

the merchant will open the cover of the display top and fold the end fiaps along the proper score lines 29, 3G to adjust the bottom to the proper height, tearing off the excess material along the proper tear lines 3|, 32, and then after raising the bottom to the desired height, the downturned ends of the flaps (indicated at 33, 34 in Figs. 2 and 5) are tucked down into the upwardly turned legs of the clips- 2'|, 28, which holds the bottom in adjusted position. The blank for forming the bottom and flaps in this case is shown in Fig. 8, wherein the bottom is indicated at 15, the side flanges at 23, 26, just as in Fig. '7.

In Figs. 3 and 9, I have shownanother form of my invention in which the adjustable bottom is preferably the same as that shown in the blank of Fig. 8, but the bottom formed from the blank shown in Fig. '7 may also be used if desired. In this form of the invention, the hangers are formed from a pair of rods or wires 35, 36 which are detachably or permanently secured to the metal frame of the cover, as may be desired, but are fixed with respect thereto when the invention is in use. In using this form of the invention, the container is filled with merchandise, as described in connection with Fig. 1, and when a part of it has been sold, the merchant opens the cover and folds the flaps on the proper score lines 29, 38, after first tearing off any excess material along the proper tear lines 3|, 32. He then grasps the folded ends between his thumbs and fingers and raises the bottom until the turned down ends of the flaps can be tucked in between the rods 35, 36 and the edges of the ledges I 4 on the display cover, thus holding the bottom in adjusted position. The material of the flaps is stiff enough to prevent the flaps from pulling back over the rods.

It is to be noted that in all forms of the invention' I have illustrated, the hangers, whetherthey These.

be the clips 20, 21 or the rods 35, 36, bear a fixed relation to the container H and covers [3, and

are held in position by means of the display lions of which are now in the hands of dealers.

My invention contemplates having these hangers secured to new covers when they are made, in which case the hangers may be secured to the under side of the ledge M by a hinged connection, by soldering or any other suitable means.

While I have described specific embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are. but illustrative and are not to be taken as limitations of the invention, except as defined in my claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a container, a cover having a frame embracing the top of the container, an adjustable bottom in the container having upwardly extending side flaps, hangers at the top of said container and having upwardly turned inner ends accessible through said cover frame, said side flaps being engageable with said upwardly turned ends to support said bottom and prevent its tilting, and having tear lines for varying their effective lengths to support said bottom at different heights.

2. In combination, a container, a cover having a frame embracing the top of the container, an adjustable bottom in the container having upwardly extending side flaps, S-shaped clips engaging the top of the containers and accessible through said cover, said flaps having score lines on which they'a're foldable to engage in said S-shaped clips to adjustably support said bottom, and tear lines intermediate said score lines for .varying the effective length of said flaps.

3. In combination, a container, a cover having an open frame embracing the top of the container, an adjustable bottom in the container having an upwardly extending side flap on each of two opposite sides of sufficient width to prevent tilting of the bottom, S-shaped clips at the top of the container and within said open cover frame whereby said clips are accessible through said cover frame upon opening the cover, said flaps engaging over said clips to support said bottom and prevent its tilting.

4. The combination with cover structure, of tray structure including means for elevating and supporting the same, said cover structure and said tray-elevating means including cooperating disengageable members engageable in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions corresponding with different elevated positions of said tray structure.

5. The combination with cover structure, adapted for detachable mounting upon a container, of tray structure including means for elevating and supporting the same, supporting members independent of the container and disposed on said cover structure, and cooperating supporting members disposed on said tray-elevating means, said first and second named supporting members being disengageable and engageable in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions corresponding with difierent elevated' positions of said tray structure.

6. The combination with cover structure, adapted for detachable mounting upon a container, of tray structure including means for supporting the same provided with vertically-spaced apertures, and tray-supporting means operatively associated with said cover structure and adapted to enter apertures in said first-named means for holding said tray-elevating means independently of the container in any one of a plurality of positions corresponding with different elevated positions of said tray structure.

7 The combination with cover structure, comprising a cover frame adapted for detachable mounting upon a container, and a cover carried by said frame, of tray structure including means for elevating and supporting the same, supporting members permanently comprised in said cover frame, and cooperating supporting members disposed on said tray-elevating means, said first and second named supporting members being disengageable and engageable independently of the container in any. one of a plurality of predetermined positions corresponding with different elevated positions of said tray structure.

8. The combination with cover structure comprising a cover frame adapted for detachable mounting upon a container, and a removable cover upon said frame, of tray structure including means for elevating and supporting the same, supporting members upon said cover frame independent of the container and cooperating supporting members disposed on said tray-elevating means, said first and second named supporting members being disengageable and engageable in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions corresponding with different elevated positions of said tray structure.

9. The combination with cover structure, of tray structure including means for elevating and supporting the same, said elevating means'being provided with vertically-spaced apertures, and. members, operatively associated with said cover structure, received in said apertures for supporting said tray structure in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions to which it may be elevated.

10. The combination with cover structure, of tray structure including means for elevating and supporting the same, said elevating means being provided with vertically-spaced apertures, and members, operatively associated with said cover structure, received in said apertures for supporting said tray structure in any one of a plurality of positions to which it may be elevated, said elevating means weakened between said apertures for facilitating removal in succession of portions of said elevating means.

11. The combination with cover structure, of tray structure including means for elevating and supporting the same, said elevating means having apertures vertically spaced from each other, and hook-like members, operatively associated with said cover structure, adapted to enter said apertures and thereat support said tray structure.

12. The combination with cover structure, of

tray structure including means for elevating and supporting the same, said elevating means having apertures vertically spaced from each other, a supporting member constituting a built-in part of said cover structure, and an element carried by and projecting from said supporting member adapted to enter said apertures to support said tray structure in any one of a plurality of positions to which it may be elevated.

13. The combination with cover structure, of

tray structure including means for elevating and supporting the same, said elevating means having apertures vertically spaced from each other, a supporting member constituting a built-in part of said cover structure, and a hook-like member carried by said supporting member adapted to enter said apertures to support said tray structure in any one of a plurality of positions to which it may be elevated.

14. The combination with cover structure hav ing a flange adapted to extend across the end of a container, of tray structure including means for elevating and supporting the same, said elevating means being provided with vertically-spaced apertures, a supporting member, operatively associsaid apertures of said flap for holding said tray in any one of a plurality of positions to which it may be elevated.

16. The combination with cover structure de-' tachably mountable upon a container, of a tray, a flap of sheet material for elevating and supporting said tray and having vertically-spaced apertures, and means operatively associated with said cover structure adapted to extend into said apertures of said flap in a direction normal to its face for holding said tray in any one of a plurality of positions to which it may be elevated.

1'7. In combination, a container, a display cover having a frame embracing the top of said container, hangers within said container and cover and fixed with respect to said container and cover, said hangers being held in position by the cover frame and mounted in such position with respect to the frame that they are accessible through the latter upon opening the cover, an adjustable bottom for said container, and wide flaps secured to said bottom on opposite sides, each flap adjustably engaging one of said hangers independently of the other and being access-' ible through said frame to adjust said bottom in said container, said hangers being of sufficient width to hold said flaps and bottom from tilting. 18. In combination, a container, a display cover having an open frame embracing the top of the container, hangers fixed to said frame within the top and adjacent the sides of the container, said hangers being accessible through said open frame, an adjustable bottom in said container having upwardly extending flaps lying adjacent the sides of the container and accessible through said open frame, each of said flaps being engageable over one of said hangers and independently adjustable with respect to its hanger to adjust the height of said bottom.

' BRUCE J. DAVIDSON. 

